Qatar has condemned Israeli media reports accusing it of backing Hamas as part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at derailing its mediation efforts with the U.S. to secure a Gaza ceasefire.

Qatar has slammed recent fabricated reports by the Israeli media, denouncing them as “a deliberate” attempt to sow division between the Gulf state and the United States at a critical time of their joint mediation efforts in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, Qatar’s International Media Office (IMO) stressed that the timing of the reports’ release was “no coincidence,” especially “at a moment when a breakthrough is within reach”.

“It is a deliberate distraction, deployed by those who want to deflect attention from negative coverage of their own irresponsible actions in Gaza–including those reported in the news over the past week–at a moment when a breakthrough is within reach,” the statement explained.

The recent reports included one by Israel’s Channel 12 alleging Qatar’s support for Hamas, echoing past baseless allegations by Israeli media outlets and officials. 

Most of the criticism has focused on Qatar’s hosting of the Hamas political office, established in 2012 at Washington’s request to maintain a channel of communication with the Palestinian movement.

Such reports fall under a wider disinformation campaign targeting Qatar since it assumed its pivotal mediation role between Hamas and Israel, despite its crucial role in leading to the release of 139 captives from the Gaza Strip.

In its latest statement, Qatar’s IMO noted that the same “tactic has been used previously by those who want diplomacy to fail”, urging “all media outlets to remain vigilant against misinformation spread by those who want to disrupt the negotiations”.

“Similar methods have been used against those who have spoken out against the continuation of the war, or worked diplomatically to bring the hostages home, including members of President Trump’s administration, in an effort to discredit them and undermine the diplomatic process,” the IMO said.

“Their efforts will not succeed. No fabricated documents will weaken the bond between Qatar and the United States,” it stressed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been at the forefront of the anti-Qatar campaign as he faces increased domestic pressure to halt the war in the Gaza Strip to return all captives. 

Last month, Netanyahu accused Qatar of “playing both sides with its double talk” in yet another attempt to undermine its crucial mediation role. 

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, hit back at Netanyahu’s “inflammatory” statements, saying they fell “far short of the most basic standards of political and moral responsibility”.

Netanyahu has repeatedly obstructed efforts to reach a complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip under his refusal to end the genocide.

The mediators – Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. – first reached a week-long truce that lasted between November 24 and December 1, 2023, resulting in the release of 109 captives.

Qatar later brokered a three-phase ceasefire deal that took effect on January 19, leading to the release of 33 Israeli captives and five Thai nationals.

Israel broke the ceasefire on March 18, demanding that Hamas hand over the remaining captives.

Since the beginning of the genocide, Israel has killed more than 61,700 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to a revised figure by the local health ministry. However, the figure is believed to be significantly higher, with thousands trapped under the rubble.